Rich Calderon dominated in points this season, only falling short of the record in the season’s final week. Meanwhile, Jeff won 11 games and came up just 0.6 points shy of averaging 1,500 points per game. Yet, would anyone really be shocked if either of these two teams lost to Eric Vozzola (v Calderon) or Richard Burrier (v Jeff)? I certainly wouldn’t.

To prove my point, CBS has no team as more than a 100-point favorite, while two of the lower seeds (myself and Eric) as the current favorites. That’s the beauty of the 2016 playoffs. Of the eight teams in the playoffs, any one of them could win three games in a row.

Yet, I also got a special treat for you. I’m not doing these predictions alone. Nope, COLBY HALL, Fox News’ third favorite white male, who is still riding high off his four-game winning streak, has joined me and contributed his deeper thoughts. You’re welcome.

#1 NO RESPECT VS #8 THE HYPE IS REAL

2016 RECORD – Jeff: 11-2, Burrier: 6-7 | 2016 SCORING – Bob: 1st, Burrier: 10th JEFF CAREER PLAYOFF: 0-3 overall, 0-3 in quarters, 0-0 in semis, 0-0 in finals | Average PPG: 1,034 RICH B CAREER PLAYOFF: 6-9 overall, 3-7 in quarters, 2-1 in semis, 1-1 in finals | Average PPG: 1,300 1-SEED IN PLAYOFFS: 24-13 (4 titles, 3 runner ups) 8-SEED IN PLAYOFFS: 5-18 1 vs 8 IN QUARTERS: The #1 seed leads the series, 13-5 (#1 has won three straight)

JEFF/RICH B THIS SEASON: Jeff and Burrier faced off back in week five and the former walked away with a low scoring, 1,128 – 1,052 victory. Jeff relied on his backfield again, as McCoy and Gordon combined for 520 points, plus 232 from the Cardinals DST. This helped overcome the fact he had Drew Brees out on a bye, while his receivers (Jackson, Fuller) and tight end (Rudolph) combined for only 108 points.

In that game, Burrier was without both Russell Wilson (bye week) and Latavius Murray (injury) plus Jay Ajayi had yet to breakout. He did get 306 from Devonta Freeman and 218 from a healthy Rob Gronkowski helped, but his subs were awful. Duke Johnson had just 44 fantasy points, which is still better than Ryan Tannehill, who had just six fantasy points (sacked six times, two picks).

JEFF/RICH B HISTORY: These two are even in their career series, tied up at six a piece. However, Jeff has managed to win two straight and three of the last four match ups.

JEFF/RICH B PLAYOFF HISTORY: It’s amazing we’ve played this many seasons of Robioland football and can still say this, but these two have never faced off in the post-season before. Of course, it doesn’t help that Jeff’s only been to three playoff games in his career as a solo artist, while Burrier only has two quarterfinals victories.

FUN FACT: This is the second straight year that Rich has earned the final playoff spot. Like last year, he’s 6-7, facing an 11-2 team. In fact, no one finishes eighth more than Burrier. He’s done it five times now (five of his last seven playoff trips). He was the last 8-seed win a playoff game, when he upset 1-seed Griff back in 2012.

COLBY’S TAKE:

#2 THE DICK-TATERS VS #7 BROWN ‘N SERVIN IT

2016 RECORD – Rich C: 9-4, Eric: 6-7 2016 SCORING – Rich C: 1st, Eric: 6th RICH C CAREER PLAYOFF: 8-8 overall, 5-4 in quarters, 2-3 in semis, 1-1 in finals | Average PPG: 1,280 ERIC CAREER PLAYOFF: 2-5 overall, 1-4 in quarters, 1-0 in semis, 0-1 in finals | Average PPG: 1,301 2-SEED IN PLAYOFFS: 17-14 (four titles, one runner-up) 7-SEED IN PLAYOFFS: 18-15 (two titles, one runner-up) 2 vs 7 IN QUARTERS: Yep, the infamous 2-7 match up. The 7-seed leads the series, 10-8. In fact, the 7-seed has won eight of the last 11. Calderon is just 1-3 as the 2-seed.

RICH C/ERIC THIS SEASON: Calderon took care of business back in week seven, defeating Eric, 1,483 – 1,313. Rich got 612 points from Bell/Murray, plus another 398 from A.J. Green, which helped overcome -19 from the Bills DST. He was also without Jordan Reed and Bortles was still his starting QB. In defeat, Eric rocked 316 from Tyrod Taylor, 234 from Gio Bernard and 238 from Antonio Brown. Of course, he got killed by Jordan Howard, who had just 44 points (7 carries, 22 yards).

RICH C/ERIC HISTORY: Calderon leads the series, 9-7, although his victory this season ended a two-game losing streak to Eric. The longest winning against each other has against one another was when Rich won four straight between 2008-2010.

RICH C/ERIC PLAYOFF HISTORY: Like Burrier and Greenblatt above, these two have never faced off in the post-season.

FUN FACT: The 2-seed hasn’t been kind to Calderon over the years. He’s just 1-3 as the two seed, twice losing to the other Vozzola. However, in 2013, he finally got over the hump and won the championship as the 2-seed.

COLBY’S TAKE: 

#3 THE ZEKE SQUAD VS #6 WARE DID YOU HYDE MY SALAMI

2016 RECORD – Don: 9-4, Robio: 6-7 2016 SCORING – Rob M: 7th, Robio: 4th DON CAREER PLAYOFF: 8-7 overall, 4-5 in quarters, 2-2 in semis, 2-0 in finals. | Average PPG: 1,308 ROBIO CAREER PLAYOFF: 21-7 overall, 10-1 in quarters, 7-1 in semis, 4-3 in finals | Average PPG: 1,488 3-SEED IN PLAYOFFS: 20-16 (two titles, three runner ups) 6-SEED IN PLAYOFFS: 8-16 (two runner ups) 3 vs 6 IN QUARTERS: 11-7 – Last year when Colby defeated Eric, it broke a four-year winning streak by the 3-seed.

DON/ROBIO THIS SEASON: Don and I split our season series. I beat him easily back in week two, 1,597 – 1,137. I got big points from Rivers (346), Greg Olsen (304) and the Broncos DST (269). Only two players managed to break 200 for Don; Stafford (224) and Elliot (204). Two failed to hit 100, Barnidge had just 74, while Danny Woodhead had 62, as he was carted off the field in the first half.

In the second meeting, Don got his revenge, behind a late Monday pickup. Matt Stafford had a fine game (370), while Elliot delivered 270 against one of the best defenses in football, yet it was rookie Ryan Anderson who put him over the top with 182 points. While I had no 300-point players, I did have five players hit at least 190. However, they couldn’t overcome the three players that couldn’t top 60, including 20 from Enunwa.

DON/ROBIO HISTORY: Don has always been my nemesis. He leads our overall series, 11-10, although I’ve done better lately, taking seven of the last 10 meetings.

DON/ROBIO PLAYOFF HISTORY: Don and I have faced off three times in the post-season. The first two were obviously the two title games. In 2006 and 2008, as the 7-seed, Don managed to upset me twice. In the former, Don got hot at the right time and despite being a lower seed, was the favorite heading into the title game. He crushed it and me, 1,617 – 844.

Two years later, my team was clearly the best and I was the heavy favorite, as I had averaged a stunning 1,630 PPG in my last eleven games. But in that infamous game, I benched DeAngelo Williams, which cost me the game. Don won 1,216 – 1041.

FUN FACT: This game features the most past championships. Don and I have won a total of six titles.

COLBY’S TAKE:

#4 FONDLING IS MY FORTE VS #5 WHITE PRIVELEDGE

2016 RECORD – Rob M: 8-5, Bob: 8-5 2016 SCORING – Rob M: 3rd, Bob: 10th ROB M CAREER PLAYOFF: 4-10 overall, 4-6 in quarters, 0-4 in semis, 0-0 in finals | Average PPG: 1,422 BOB CAREER PLAYOFF: 17-7 overall, 9-2 in quarters, 4-5 in semis, 4-0 in finals | Average PPG: 1,493 4-SEED IN PLAYOFFS: 13-15 (3 titles, 1 runner-up) 5-SEED IN PLAYOFFS: 18-16 (1 title, 3 runner-ups) 4 vs 5 IN QUARTERS: 13-5 – #5 has dominated, taking eight of the last ten, including three straight.

ROB M/BOB THIS SEASON: Back in week seven, Bob handed Masterson only his second loss of the season, 1,498 – 1,370. Aaron Rodgers dominated the Bears (360), while his new receiving core of Julio Jones and Michael Crabtree, delivered 600 combined points. Masterson did get 682 points from his Patriots connection (Brady, Blount), but a decision to bench Matt Forte for Mark Ingram cost him 204 fantasy points and the game.

ROB M/BOB HISTORY: Bob has a losing record against only two teams in this league. He’s just 9-12 against Griff, which has been his toughest foe. The other…Rob Masterson, who leads the series, 11-10. Having said that, Bob has actually won the last three meetings.

ROB M/BOB PLAYOFF HISTORY: Rob may lead the series, but it’s Bob who has done the damage in the post-season. These two have faced off twice in the post-season, both in the quarterfinals.

In 2004, 2-seed Bob rolled over Masterson, 1,825 – 1,494, on his way to winning his first championship in this league. That year was the first year Rob failed to escape the quarterfinals.

In 2011, Rob was the favorite, having averaged over 1,500 points per game, crushing Bob twice during the regular season, earning the 2-seed. Well, we all remember that weekend. Bob pulled off the massive upset, beating Rob by just two points in the quarterfinals, 1,625 – 1,623. Just like in 2004, the victory over Masterson propelled Bob to a championship.

FUN FACT: Of course, fantasy is both talent and luck and Rob has not been the lucky one. While Bob’s playoff opponents have averaged only 1,270 PPG (which is the lowest in the league), Rob’s opponents have averaged 1,485 (3rd most).

COLBY’S TAKE: 

Who is the winner? Well since fantasy football is a stupid game that relies almost entirely on luck I am going to flip a coin. Heads means Rob wins, tails goes to Bob.

Tails – Bob wins. 1408 – 1391

ROB’S DEEP THOUGHTS

#1 NO RESPECT (JEFFREY GREENBLATT)

HOW WE GOT HERE: Jeff was projected to miss the playoffs this year for a few different reasons. I didn’t like his receivers or his second running back and I had lost faith in Drew Brees. Second, he’s Jeff. Third, the schedule was brutal. Griff and Bob were the heavy favorites walking into the season and Jeff was the poor soul who had to face them twice each. That was four loses in my book.

Well, week one proved that this was going to be a brand new season, as Jeff scored a 1,902-1,253 victory over the defending champ. The following week, he easily dispatched Bob, 1,5010-906. The winning, except for a couple of hiccups, would be the theme of Greenblatt’s season.

Led by Brees, McCoy and Gordon, Jeff blew through the league like Molly and a bag of coke on Christmas. He suffered only two defeats all season and only one of those (week four against Masterson) came when he had both his backs. He earned his first ever top seed, finishing a career high second in scoring (1,499 points per game).

LOOKING AHEAD: Jeff ended the season with a pair of All-Robio running backs. Now McCoy isn’t a true shocker. The belief with him was, if he stayed healthy, he was gold. However, Gordon proved to be the deep sleeper that paid off big. Yet, neither is close to being done. Both have fantastic schedules moving forward, including each getting to face the Browns.

McCoy’s next three are Steelers, Browns, Dolphins. Gordon has the Panthers, Raiders and Browns. Of those six, only the Panthers are in the top-15 in defense and they just gave up over 100 yards to Thomas Rawls in the first half Sunday night’s game.

At receiver, picking up Rishard Matthews has helped, but this is still a team that lacks a true WR1. Each week, Jeff is stuck guessing and that’s never easy. In fact, Jeff has guessed wrong more than he’s guessed right. At least with Walker at tight end, there is no decision to make.

On defense, the Ravens have proven to be a solid pick up, although I’m not confident that Jeff can trust them in the Robioland post-season. Over the next three weeks, they travel to New England and in week six, head to Pittsburgh.

The X-factor is Drew Brees. Why is the second best quarterback in fantasy an X-factor? Simple…he can make all the other problems seem trivial. I’ve never loved his post-season schedule (at the Buccaneers, at Cardinals, home vs Buccaneers). Tampa, who is just 20th against the pass, has played much better lately and heading out west to Arizona to face the Cardinals on a second road game won’t be a piece of cake.

FINAL ANALYSIS: If Jeff is going to go down, the week to get him is the quarterfinals. That’s the one week his running backs will face stiff competition. However, I’m pretty confident that Burrier doesn’t have the goods to take advantage of it.

#2 THE DICK-TATERS (RICH CALDERON)

HOW WE GOT HERE: Calderon established his authority right off the bat, scoring over 2,000 in a week one victory over Burrier. The following week he’d win again, then would struggle in week three, failing to score 1,000 in a loss to Don. That would be the theme of Calderon’s season.

He won two, lost one. Then starting in week four, he won two and lost one. In week seven, he did it a third time, winning two and losing one. Obviously, to end the season, he won two before wrapping up the regular season with a loss.

LOOKING AHEAD: Prior to the A.J. Green injury, I would have penciled Calderon in as the easy favorite heading into the postseason. For him, it all starts in the backfield, you know, the league’s best backfield. DeMarco Murray and Le’Veon Bell have dominated. They average 605 combined points per game. 6-0-5. To put that in perspective, take away just one player, David Johnson, from Griff’s roster, his eight other players averaged just 957 points per game, just 352 more than Rich’s backfield.

At quarterback, Matt Ryan is more than serviceable, although his numbers have dipped a bit down the stretch. Still, if he and Rich can survive the quarterfinals, he’ll face two of the worst pass defenses to finish the season (49ers and Panthers).

For Rich, success or failure will come and go with three spots. First, he needs to make good decisions at DST. Rich has rolled out the ultimate roto-defense this season. Just look at these DST’s he’s started this year…

Eagles (176, 198), Dolphins (70), Colts (65), Bills (193, 150, -17), Titans (80), Dolphins again (170), Jets (140), Giants (153, 249), Chargers (56).

That’s eight different defenses this year and as you can see, some decisions have been good, some okay and a couple flopped. However, if you combined these and make it all one team, Rich’s DSTs have scored 129.5 PPG. That would give him the sixth best defense in fantasy.

The next concern is tight end. Jordan Reed is a beast. If healthy, he could easily be the best tight end in football. If you took his average points per game and applied it to a full season, he would finish with a first-team All-Robio award. Yet, Reed is basically made from glass and can’t seem to catch a ball without busting something. Now he’s dealing with a separated shoulder and there is no timetable for him to return.

Lastly, with A.J. Green still out, the one advantage Rich had over Jeff is no longer an advantage. In two games without Green, Benjamin and Baldwin have totaled only 400 fantasy points (100 points per game each). Baldwin’s got a tough final three weeks, so I’m not expecting some sudden breakout, but Benjamin has a pass-friendly schedule. The Panthers face the Chargers, Redskins and Falcons. The Chargers are the best of the bunch and they’re only 13th against wide receivers in fantasy.

FINAL ANALYSIS: I’d feel better if Green was back and I knew Jordan Reed could stay healthy, but man those backs are sexy. Still, who am I to break rank? If Rich has won two and lost one all season long, why shake things up? Rich will dispatch his foes in both the quarterfinals and semifinals, before falling in the title game. But against whom?

#3 THE ZEKE SQUAD (DON VOZZOLA)

HOW WE GOT HERE: Don had missed the playoffs the previous four years, so it was no surprise when he dropped his first two to Bob and Rob and seemed well on his way to another early exit. In week three though, he caught a break, as the top team in my rankings (Calderon) had his worst game of the year, allowing Don to escape with a 1,171 – 946 victory.

Don ran with this and kept on winning. He scored his three best games of the year in weeks 4-6, averaging 1,511, winning all three. In weeks seven and eight, he actually struggled to score, but thanks to a break in the schedule, he was able to beat two non-playoff teams (Matt, Griff). Just like that, Don was 6-2, riding a six-game winning streak.

Even a week ten loss to Jeff only seemed like a hiccup, as he took care of business against Burrier in week eleven and then escaped with a low scoring four-point win over Eric the following week. Keeping up this tight them, he finished the season with a 81-point loss to Bob and a 61-point win over me. He finished 9-4 and earned the 3-seed.

LOOKING AHEAD: Ignoring the nine wins and the 3-seed, I have to ask, how good is this team really? I’ve already mentioned on Monday how bad Don is in breakdown against the other top-five teams in this league. Overall, he’s just 7th in scoring and 9th in breakdown.

There are only two spots on Don’s roster he doesn’t have to stress about. Obviously, the firs is Zeke Elliot. The first overall pick has been fantastic is always good for about 250, if not more. At quarterback, Don has a two good ones in Andrew Luck and Matt Stafford. However, both could struggle if the opponent is tough enough, so Don will have to make a decision each week in the post-season.

With Danny Woodhead on IR, Matt Jones benched and Darren Sproles unpredictable, Don most likely needs to roll three-wide, having to decide between Edelman, Sanders, Tate, Matthews (if healthy) and newly acquired Ryan Anderson. Of the first three, all three are capable of putting up game-changing performances. Both Tate and Sanders have two 300+ games this year, but they have also combined for 11 games where they failed to hit 100.

Edelman is probably the one safer bet, especially with Rob Gronkowski out. He’s now Tom Brady’s security blanket and has had two 200-point games over the last three weeks.

On top of all that, Don’s’ tight end spot has been a mess (Rudolph) and the Rams DST has been a disaster. Ironically, Don’s kicker is an x-factor. Adam Vinatieri has outscored both Don’s TE and DST and has scored at least 150 in five games this year.

FINAL ANALYSIS: I think Don has far and away blown away my expectations for this team. I would have never predicted nine wins, but even with a victory in week 13, every sign says my team is better than his. I’ve doubled him up in 1,400-point games. Obviously, he could make a great lineup decision and I can make a poor one, but I don’t see this team escaping the quarterfinals.

#4 FONDLING IS MY FORTE (ROB MASTERSON)

HOW WE GOT HERE: Rob has been a playoff mainstay for a few years now (he’s actually second behind Bob for longest streak) and he’s always been a good starter (14-1 in week one), so it wasn’t too surprising to see him stomp out of the gate 5-0; the last unbeaten team.

He could have easily been 7-0, but in weeks six and seven, he made one crucial benching in each game that cost him the contest. Still, Rob rolled with the punches and countered with his two best efforts of the year, scoring 1,816 and 1,502 in wins over Burrier and Calderon.

Oddly enough, despite having already wrapped up a playoff spot at 7-2 and being a better team by having a healthy Dez Bryant back at 100%, Rob’s points dipped and he suffered three straight loses, all to teams deemed inferior (Molly, Colby and Eric). He salvaged it in week thirteen, with a nice win over Griff, finishing the year 8-5 and in fourth place.

LOOKING AHEAD: Rob’s team is stacked. It’s just that simple. He’s got an elite quarterback (Brady), two WR1s with Dez and Cooper, an All-Robio tight end with Jimmy Graham and the league’s top defense (Vikings).

His backs can be inconsistent. Matt Forte has fluctuated from fantastic to awful from week-to-week, Mark Ingram got benched, but seems to be running the ball well. Blount can pound it, but it’s hard to trust the Patriots’ backfield.

For Rob, the issue is match ups this week. Yes, his running backs should shine. Mark Ingram faces a weak Buccaneers run defense, while Forte takes on the league’s worst (49ers). At tight end, Jimmy Graham should make some noise against a Packers DST that has given up fantasy points to tight ends, while his Vikings DST will defend the turnover machine, Bortles.

On the flip side though, Rob’s three best players face stiff test in the quarterfinals. Tom Brady faces a solid Ravens DST that’s actually healthier and better, while Bryant will see a good Giants D and Cooper heads to Kansas City.

FINAL ANALYSIS: Rob will need one of his stars to breakthrough one of their touch match ups. That’s asking a lot, but if Masterson can escape the quarterfinals and beat Bob, he will be a dangerous team moving forward.

#4 WHITE PRIVELDEGE (BOB CASTRONE)

HOW WE GOT HERE: Bob didn’t really begin the season with a bang. He escaped with a 43-point win over Don in week one, failed to hit 1,000 in a week two defeat to Jeff and needed a 775-point effort from Molly to improve to 2-1. A week later he beat Colby, 1,476-897, before failing to score even 900 in a 895-point loss to Eric. Bob was 3-2, last in scoring, with two of this victories coming because his opponent failed to score 1,000. This was not the typical Bob we’ve come to know.

However, behind the scenes, Bob was wheeling and then dealing. He picked up Michael Crabtree, inserted a hot Christine Michael into his starting lineup and then traded for the league’s top receiver, along with Arian Foster.

Suddenly, he team looked, dare I say, good. He averaged 1,492 points in his next three, all three victories and at 6-2, he was clearly cruising back to the playoffs for a record 11th straight year.

Yet, as he was winning, his backfield was crumbling. Lamar Miller was dealing with nagging injuries, Michael was benched and eventually cut. Bob traded for Brandon Marshall so he could go three-wide, but it didn’t prevent his team from dropping two straight to Burrier and Calderon.

Bob ended up wrapping up the year with a pair of 1,300-point performances (and wins over Griff and Don), before struggling in a week thirteen defeat to Jeff. Bob finished the year 8-5, but he was just 10th in scoring. That’s the lowest scoring team (based on rank) since David Hightower crashed the 2008 playoffs, despite scoring 12th that year.

LOOKING AHEAD: I’ll admit, Bob’s team was like a girl I was once in love with. I mean, I masturbated to her daily, but lately, I’m cooled and I don’t see a future with her.

Obviously, he’s only going to be a threat when he can walk into any game with the league’s top quarterback (Rodgers) and top wide receiver (Julio Jones). Michael Crabtree has been excellent this year and that gives Bob two WR1s.

Yet, he can only trout out one running back, Lamar Miller, who plays in a shit offense and has struggled to stay on the field lately. Julio Jones is dealing with a turf toe and Brandon Marshall has a rookie quarterback tossing him the ball.

The only good news for Bob is that the quarterfinals might allow him to have one last booty call. Take away Rodgers, who will be facing a tough Seattle’s D at home and Crabtree going against the Chiefs, his other match ups couldn’t be better. Miller (vs Colts), Jones (vs Rams), Marshall (vs 49ers), Eifert (vs Browns) and Bengals DST (vs Browns) all face inferior foes.

FINAL ANALYSIS: The ability to upset Masterson in the quarterfinals is there. Rob’s team is better, but Bob’s match ups are way better. I can see him taking at least one game, but it’s hard to see Bob making a title game run, unless he starts getting 500 points per game from Aaron Rodgers (which isn’t impossible).

#6 WARE DID YOU HYDE MY SALAMI (ROBIO MURRAY)

HOW WE GOT HERE: Through four weeks, I dominated. I won my first four, averaging a solid 1,542 points per game. Even a week five loss to (4-0) Masterson didn’t shake me, as I still scored a solid 1,417 points. However, that defeat would be the first of six in a row. Despite only dealing with a couple small injury issues and bye weeks, my team got cold. Over the next five, I would average just 1,151 points per game (producing two weekly low scores).

Yet, because other teams sucked worse than me, I was 4-6 and still the six-seed. Finally, in week eleven, my two Redskins (Cousins, Kelley) combined for 872 and I pulled off a massive upset of Jeff, 1,587 – 1,070. I would officially earn a playoff spot with a victory over Matt the following week, before losing by just 71 to Don in the final week. I finished 6-7, earning the 6-seed, becoming just the second person to lose six in a row and still make the playoffs.

LOOKING AHEAD: Hope and pray.  That’s my plan for the 2016 playoffs. On the season, my team has stayed relatively healthy (Ware missed one game, Hype a pair), but they just been wildly inconsistent. There have been times when Philip Rivers and Kirk Cousins have looked like top-5 quarterbacks. Both Spencer Ware and Carlos Hyde have looked fantastic at points this year. Jordy Nelson has had huge games, thr Broncos DST has done what I had hoped and Greg Olsen was a beast in the first half of the year. Yes, there is a reason why this team is tied for the most 1,400-point games this year.

Yet, this is the same group that did lose seven games, including six in a row. Why?

First, all these players have been inconsistent, capable of dropping bombs on my team. Second, my bench has been terrible. Just about every time I subbed  in a player, they’ve failed me. Lastly, I’ve never been able to fix my struggles at WR2. Allen Robinson has been a monster bust made worse by the fact he had only three good games and all three came on my bench. Now I have no choice but to start him in the Quarterfinals against the Vikings. That’s not going to turn out well.

FINAL ANALYSIS: I really have no clue. I can arguable beat any team in this league (I’ve already beaten Jeff), but would anyone be surprised if I lost in the quarterfinals and produced the weekly low score.

#7 BROWN ‘N SERVIN  IT (ERIC VOZZOLA)

HOW WE GOT HERE: Eric has done so well in the back half of the season, you almost forget that he began the year losing his first four. The fact was, he wasn’t scoring points, averaging 1,234 points per game and he did face the three top teams at that time (Jeff, Masterson and myself were a combined 11-1 after four weeks).

Yet, a week five blowout of Bob, a victory that I foresaw in my predictions, sparked this team. Led by the $52 man, Jordan Howard, Eric would end up winning four of his next five, only losing to Calderon in week seven by 170 points. Sure he wasn’t overpowering anyone, scoring over 1,400 just once (in that win over Bob), but he had turned it around and was only one game below .500.

However, a pair of setbacks, first to Griff and then a four-point loss to his dad, nearly derailed the comeback. He actually fell out of the playoff picture for a week, but then he managed to salvage it again, finishing the year with a pair of wins over Masterson and Matt (avenging two early defeats). At 6-7, Eric earned the 7th seed. Also, despite scoring over 1,400 just once, he did hit 1,300 six times and finished 6th in scoring.

LOOKING AHEAD: It took all season, but it finally happened…Eric got Thomas Rawls back and along side Jordan Howard, he has a backfield that can match Calderon’s (Murray/Bell) and Jeff’s (McCoy/Gordon)…or does he?

I don’t really know. Outside of Antonio Brown (first-team WR), it’s hard to judge how good this team really is. Thomas Rawls did kill it last week (105 yards and two scores by halftime), but is that the new norm or was that just a good 30 minutes of football? Jordan Howard has delivered three great games in his last four (including a pair of 400-point efforts), but when the Bears face a decent run defense, he can be held in check.

Tyrod Taylor has four 300-point games, but has failed to score 150 in two of his last three. Eric Ebron was shutout a week after scoring 200. Larry Fitzgearld has only one 200-point game since week six.

My point, Eric could score 1,700 points….but he could also score 700 points.

FINAL ANALYSIS: Against plenty of foes in the quarterfinals, I would declare Eric the winner and if I did a poll, he’d certainly be a favorite, especially as the dreaded 7-seed. I don’t see it. Calderon is good…Calderon is too good.

#8 THE HYPE IS REAL (RICHARD BURRIER)

HOW WE GOT HERE: Shaking off a cool start to the season (losing to Calderon, 2,030 – 1,008), Rich skyrocketed up the rankings with a pair of wins over Molly and Colby, where he scored 1,590 and 1,642 in back-to-back games.

Rich looked like the real deal. He wasn’t. He would drop his next three to Griff, Jeff and Eric, producing one weekly low score (730 against Griff). A 1,577 – 1,161 victory over me stopped the bleeding, but he couldn’t find consistency, following each win with a loss, not scoring much either way. Heading into week 13, Burrier was just 5-7, last in points, needing a win to make the playoffs. Well, he pulled out another one of those 1,500-pt games from his ass and at 6-7, he earned the 8-seed, for the second straight year.

LOOKING AHEAD: Okay, so what to make of a team that scored over 1,500 four times, but scored under 1,200 eight times? Burrier’s backfield is his bread and butter. Both Freeman and Murray are top-ten backs, capable of putting up 300-point games. Plus, he has Jay Ajayi sitting on his bench, ready to roll. Rich also deserves props for fixing up some of his holes. He finally benched Marvin Jones and inserted Malcolm MItchell, who has played well with Gronkowski out. Speaking of Gronk, C.J. Fiedorowicz may have the three easiest match ups (Colts, Jaguars, Bengals) of any tight end in the post-season.

For Rich, his biggest problem is that his stars have not been stars this year. Russell Wilson has been brutally inconsistent, as he has failed to lead the Seahawks to a touchdown in three games this year. At wide receiver, DeAndre Hopkins scored 170 last week and I was almost shocked…that’s how bad he has been this year. He arguable is the most disappointing non-injured player in football in 2016.

FINAL ANALYSIS: Can he beat Jeff? Sure. Will he beat Jeff? No.

COMPLETE WORTHLESS PREDICTIONS

1. Because I refuse to ever go chalk in this predictions. Both Calderon and Jeff escape high scoring close ones, Bob wins the match ups battle, while I eliminate Don in a low scoring affair. In the semis, I stun Jeff, while Calderon crushes Bob. In the title game, Calderons’s win two, lose one formally haunts him, as his team flops, fails to hit 1,000 and I earn my fifth championship. ‘Amerca! QUARTERFINALSSEMIFINALSFINALS #1 JEFF GREENBLATT OVER #8 RICHARD BURRIER #2 RICH CALDERON OVER #7 ERIC VOZZOLA #6 ROBIO MURRAY OVER #3 DON VOZZOLA #5 BOB CASTRONE OVER #4 ROB MASTERSON#6 ROBIO OVER #1 JEFF GREENBLATT #2 RICH CALDERON OVER #5 BOB CASTRONE#6 ROBIO MURRAY OVER #2 RICH CALDERON